Liverpool close out their UEFA Champions League group next week vs Midtjylland. Here are five players who will be desperate to start.
Liverpool are through in the Champions League as group winners. It makes next weeks meeting vs FC Midtjylland a dead-rubber.
But that’s a great thing. Jurgen Klopp will surely want to rotate and rest his first-XI in this busy month, providing opportunities for squad players.
Here are five who will be desperate to be in that lineup vs Midtjylland.
Neco Williams
Neco Williams bounced back from recent struggles with a fine performance vs Ajax. He faces two hurdles now: consistency and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Williams must show that he can deliver over multiple games but the returning Alexander-Arnold will rob him of a first-team place.
The game next week gives him a chance to play another full 90, though, as we can’t imagine Klopp would throw Alexander-Arnold into it. We expect Williams will even face Wolves, meaning this is likely his best chance at a solid run of games this season.
Takumi Minamino
Takumi Minamino hasn’t featured much this season – which is surprising. He’s an excellent player but the form of Diogo Jota makes finding minutes for him quite tricky.
He’ll hope that the entire attack gets a rest vs Midtjylland, then, so he can show what he’s capable of.
Adrian
Adrian ended up being a shock omission from Liverpool’s starting XI against Ajax. Caoimhin Kelleher started instead and is now ahead of the Spaniard.
Adrian, then, will be hoping beyond hope that he can get a game against Midtjylland. It could be one last chance to show he’s a better option as backup than the inexperienced Irishman.
If he doesn’t get that chance, his Liverpool career could be done with.
Kostas Tsimikas
We really thought Kostas Tsimikas would start against Ajax. Jurgen Klopp had said after the Brighton game that he wanted to bring him on, after all.
But Andy Robertson started instead. It means Tsimikas has just one start in either the Champions League or Premier League.
He’ll surely get another chance to show what he can do against Midtjylland, though. If he doesn’t, then it’ll raise questions over his signing.
Divock Origi
Another one whose Anfield career hangs by a thread. Like with Minamino, Jota has become for Origi – he just doesn’t look good in comparison.
It’s hard to see how the Belgian gets back into the team, especially with his poor form. Klopp even ‘gave him a mouthful’ against Atalanta on a rare start, according to reports.
Origi desperately needs this game, then. If he can play and look sharp against Midtjylland, then perhaps he saves his Anfield career.
Otherwise, he could well be on the chopping block come January.
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